OPINION — Even though they are an easy target, there’s value in remembering the public school system was one of the truly great ideas of the founders of this country. In an era in which only wealthy white males had the opportunity for even a basic education, guaranteeing equal access to education for all was pioneering.

At the time of the American Revolution, in no colony was education compulsory or supported by taxation. The early leaders believed that for our democracy to stay strong, the citizens needed to be educated to vote wisely to protect their rights and freedoms. It was based on the idea that a society as a whole is improved when every citizen is educated, no matter their standing. The founders believed that a more formal and unified system that was publicly funded was needed.

The first public schools were also seen as a means for instilling patriotism and common values. Leaders believed that students of all social classes should be enrolled in order to accomplish this goal.

Certainly, there was resistance to the idea of paying to educate someone else’s child. But enough citizens agreed to support the American ideal of free education for all to have the overwhelming majority of our citizens be educated in public schools to this day. 

Public schools are currently criticized and even purposely weakened by politics, unions, laws and the media. It’s probably one of the most discussed topics right now in our nation. Having been a teacher in public schools for over 30 years, I have written critically about changes I feel are warranted to improve our schools.

Yes, we need to constantly improve our nation’s public education system. But just as our forefathers saw the value of a unified system of education, we should take caution in weakening it to the point where it no longer serves the majority of our nation’s children.

One damaging opinion that is often used to weaken our local public schools is that these national stories that circulate about specific extreme examples must be happening here! These anecdotal examples, in my experience, are the exception to the rule and are exaggerated by those with ulterior motives.

Most teachers are in their classrooms every day because they genuinely care about their students and learning. Most administrators are responsible and conscientious. Our local public schools are not perfect, but they deserve the respect and support that allows them to continue to educate students “no matter their standing.”

Another opinion that hurts our public education system is that “any choice is better than my local public school.” Politicians and pundits often state that school choice is the only way to improve education. When the school choice law was passed in Utah last year, it was touted as “access to better education.” However, neighborhood public schools continue to be the overwhelming route to education for our Utah families.

A recent survey shows 84% of parents are satisfied with their neighborhood public schools and 43% are very satisfied. Parents share love and support for their local public school by volunteering their time and talents to help them. Can’t we give choices to parents who want them without throwing public education under the bus?

Research shows there are better and worse choices in non-public schools just as there are in public schools. I’ve seen students move out of the public schools to other choices and then back into their neighborhood school. Just as anyone who has lived here for a few years has seen charter and private schools come and go.

There is a benefit to children attending public school in their own neighborhood. Not only does it allow for easier transportation, it builds a community of learners and families. Often, children who attend school together live and play together, including outside interests like sports and worship. This is especially true in rural communities in Utah where sometimes schools are the only community centers.

As Utah grows and becomes more diverse, there is a benefit to students learning how to get along. The founders believed that educating students from different religious, economic and ethnic backgrounds was beneficial for learning acceptance and tolerance. As charters, homeschools and private schools siphon out students, they are often more homogeneous groups. 

Non-public school funds do not have the same oversight as public schools. It is perhaps easier to criticize and control spending when all financial records must be public. The various choices, like online, charter, religious and private schools, have the privacy that has, in some cases, led to misuse of funds and corruption.

As our state has moved to support more choices in education, let’s not do it at the expense of our public schools. It is the historical institution that has moved us from 1910, when only 14% of adults had a high school education, to now 90% of our adults having a high school education. The debates and discussions will, as always, continue about how to improve our system of public education. Moves to weaken or destroy our system will hurt the majority of our students who still benefit from our neighborhood public schools.

Submitted by ELLEN BENNETT, Washington City. Bennett taught for 27 years in Washington County elementary schools. She attended Brigham Young University and graduated from Southern Utah University with a master’s in education. Besides teaching kindergarten and first grades, she spent the last 10 years teaching fourth grade at Coral Canyon Elementary School.

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